Although I have almost entirely adjusted to the lactose intolerant lifestyle over the last few months, it never ceases to amaze me that lactose intolerance is supposed to be the default, yet dairy is such a permanent fixture of the American diet! There's cheese and/or milk in nearly everything.
My question to is: why do so many lactose intolerant people continue to eat dairy? [more inside]
posted by Delia
on Oct 29, 2016 -
60 answers

A few years ago, while I was writing about drinks, I started experiencing some … symptoms within an hour or so of getting home. As a courtesy I will describe them after the jump. [more inside]
posted by fedward
on Oct 5, 2016 -
15 answers

Crappy nostalgia-filter! Trying to remember the name these weird, powdery little diet candy tablets that were briefly sold during the 1990s. They were profoundly strange and I've never seen anything like them before or since. Everything I can remember under the fold. [more inside]
posted by julthumbscrew
on Jul 24, 2016 -
4 answers

I've started seeing a dietitian who has recommended a mindful approach to food and eating as part of my ongoing progress towards health. I'm a busy student and freelancer who is about 50/50 at home or rushing about town to uni, meetings, jobs and shows, but I love cooking: I'd really like to have some mindful snacks that I can have at home or carry in my bag on busy days. What do you recommend, Mefites?
[Special snowflakes inside, produced and packed in Australia] [more inside]
posted by prismatic7
on Jun 1, 2016 -
11 answers

I'm looking for the best book (or other source) on nutrition. Not a diet book. Not anything with an opinion (to the extent that's possible). I just would like to read a book that describes what's going on with our bodies and the foods and nutrients we put into them. How exactly are the major nutrients metabolized? In what order over what time period? What are the functions of the various amino acids? What do the various vitamins and minerals do? And so forth. I just want to know what's going on, because I can't read a thousand diet and exercise books all pushing some points over others. I have a technical background, so I can handle and appreciate decently-complex explanations of biochemistry and the like. In fact, I like that stuff. Just as long as it starts at the beginning and builds up to that. So just, the cold, hard, comprehensive facts on nutrition, please. [more inside]
posted by KinoAndHermes
on May 17, 2016 -
14 answers

If we assume the (increasingly accepted) view that sugar, in any decent quantity, is a highly unhealthy thing to eat, and that the main culprit is actually fructose, is there any good reason to not aggressively replace sugar or HFCS with dextrose? [more inside]
posted by tempythethird
on Apr 7, 2016 -
10 answers

Can you point me to some good resources for developing a better diet, given my particular situation and my very persnickety preferences regarding tone? [more inside]
posted by meese
on Mar 4, 2016 -
19 answers

I do not like to cook or prepare food. It's a character flaw, I realize, but for whatever reason I don't like to spend time on food. This leads to me eating out a lot, just because it's simple. I'm looking for foods that are healthy, filling, but also have the lowest prep time possible. Non-perishables would be a plus. I'm also fairly active, so high energy foods would be good as well. Am I asking too much, or are there foods that fit the bill?
posted by holmesian
on Jan 6, 2016 -
44 answers

I've been trying a no sugar/complex carbohydrates diet by dumping vegetables and canned salmon together with beans in a bowl, or dumping vegetables and canned salmon together with shirataki noodles in a bowl and then pouring in hot water. This gets old, fast. What are some ways to simply upgrade the taste of my meals, without added sugar, simple carbohydrates, or too much added salt? [more inside]
posted by facehugger
on Jan 5, 2016 -
21 answers

I'd like an online calorie diary that is simple, let's me just add the calorie numbers that I already know for a meal instead of making me search for each item. And then keep track of how I am meeting pre-determined goals. [more inside]
posted by cda
on Dec 31, 2015 -
9 answers

I do all of the cooking in our house. Most of the time I'm just throwing meals together with what's on sale or in the fridge rather than following A Recipe, and I'd like to keep working that way if possible. My partner wants to start counting calories, and I want to start providing her with useful data. I think I get the basic idea of how to make this work (weigh stuff before you put it in the pot, write down amounts, do math) but I'd love any specific tips or tricks from people who have made this transition themselves.
posted by nebulawindphone
on Dec 9, 2015 -
24 answers

Due to a newly diagnosed medical condition I have been given a list of food restrictions that has slashed the kinds of food I can eat by...a lot. I'm out of ideas, help! [more inside]
posted by Room 641-A
on Nov 24, 2015 -
34 answers

I has new kitteh! Yay! She's a rescue, about 2 years old, a small spayed female tuxedo beauty in good health, with a shy temperament.
I have not had a cat in years. I am sure I am asking a question to which there are many answers and about which MeFites have strong opinions, but here goes: What is the current "state of the art" answer on the best quality and healthiest commercially prepared food for an adult, indoor, younger cat? [more inside]
posted by spitbull
on Oct 21, 2015 -
27 answers

My recent blood work came back with a high fasting blood sugar. I need to cut out as many carbs and sugars as possible. A low GI diet that does not include animal products is the goal. This is a long-term thing, not a temporary diet [more inside]
posted by Avosunspin
on Sep 26, 2015 -
15 answers

I'm interested in thoughts and superstitions centred around eating and food in pregnancy around the world. What are you advised to eat or avoid in your country when pregnant? What are you told will happen to your baby (or its character) if you eat specific foods. Also, do Japanese women really give up sushi when pregnant and do the French give up their camembert and brie?
posted by kitchencrush
on Apr 22, 2015 -
21 answers

So as part of my (New) New Year's Resolution, I'm going to be doing the Men's Fitness 7% Body Fat Nutrition Plan. It's a more involved nutrition plan than I've done before, and it involves six meals a day, four of which I'll have to bring with me to the office. I'll be doing a ton of advance prep, of course, but how do my fellow office drones/fitness geeks on mefi organize and prep and store their food when they're going to the office every day and have to deal with four or five meals before going home? [more inside]
posted by nickhb
on Dec 22, 2014 -
5 answers

I'm reaching the upper-limit of my weight range where I can even comfortably call myself "chubby." If it was just up to me, I'd be able to change my diet pretty drastically, but I live in a household that doesn't lend itself to any food changes or restrictions. I need some advice before I give up and buy several pairs of mom jeans. [more inside]
posted by bibliowench
on Dec 15, 2014 -
38 answers

I think it would be AWESOME to have some chewy, honey or other naturally sweetened candy, which are not all that sweet, just to help us with oral fixations. I personally don't smoke but am needing to begin a very long progress of eating in moderation, and I tend to eat sweets when I'm bored.
[more inside]
posted by zettoo
on Dec 5, 2014 -
28 answers

I am lonely and busy-but-not-busy-enough such that basically, food has become a hobby of mine. This is bad because it makes me have semi-disordered eating habits. I need to keep myself busy enough or modify my behavior somehow so that I don't have all this extra energy to spend on thinking about food. [more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 11, 2014 -
14 answers

My partner would like to try Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet for two weeks in order to jump-start losing 10-15 lbs. I typically cook in a Phase 2/Mediterranean diet style in general, so initially I figured this would be an easy enough task -- throw out the pasta and bread for a couple of weeks, and voila! But a couple of challenges are presenting themselves. [more inside]
posted by scody
on Sep 1, 2014 -
5 answers

I'm not happy with the way I look or feel. I haven't been for a long time. I'm severely overweight, have high blood pressure with a family history of heart disease and diabetes, wake up with back pain every morning, have zero energy if it doesn't come in the form of an energy drink or shot, and just generally look like hell. What can I do to lose over 80 lbs and get myself to a healthy BMI for a 24yo 5'8' male when my brain acts like it really, really just wants to have me die of a heart attack by 35? Snowstorm inside. [more inside]
posted by marsbar77
on Aug 15, 2014 -
34 answers

My flatmate has certain eating habits that could be negatively influencing my own, but of course it's not my place to comment on her eating habits. It's stressful. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by gemutlichkeit
on Aug 14, 2014 -
21 answers

Is there a website or service where you can input particular foods (for a special health related diet) and it'll spit out recipes based on the ingredients entered?
posted by Brandon Blatcher
on Aug 9, 2014 -
5 answers

The recent general knowledge says you can use gamification to instill new habits, rewarding yourself for actions taken. But are there any strategies for instilling habits of *not doing* something? How can you reward something you haven't done? [more inside]
posted by gakiko
on Jul 30, 2014 -
17 answers

I need help with overcoming my stress in order to start eating and sleeping heathily. What are your hints and tips to get my life back on track? [more inside]
posted by Ranting Prophet of DOOM!
on Jun 30, 2014 -
7 answers

FoodFilter: My boyfriend likes junk food. The exception being sushi. Otherwise it's all meat, cheese, chips, pizza, and soda. We may be living together at some point in the future as this is getting serious, but this is an issue for me. I've worked hard to get on a healthy diet and I do not keep ANY junk in my house. Sometimes tortilla chips and salsa. I eat mostly paleo, but do have cheese. [more inside]
posted by McSockerson The Great
on May 3, 2014 -
50 answers

I know it won't be top notch, but I would like to prepare sashimi at home five nights a week with only one trip to the asian market per week. How can I safely prepare one batch of raw fish for a full week? [more inside]
posted by Jenna Roadman
on Mar 11, 2014 -
9 answers

As part of developing better eating habits, my new go-to dinner has become baked chicken breast and vegetables. Now I love me some chicken, but this can get pretty boring after a while. What are some good spice mixes, rubs, or marinades that you guys use to make chicken delicious? [more inside]
posted by nickhb
on Feb 2, 2014 -
26 answers

I love to snack. I don't love the calories that I ingest when I snack. What are some foods I can eat that are (relatively) low calorie but will take a long time? I'm looking for a high time-to-eat/calories eaten ratio. Examples: grapefruit, which I can slice in half and carefully cut out each section. Artichokes: eat leaf by leaf.
posted by bq
on Jan 27, 2014 -
42 answers

Resolution time! I grew up eating junk food. Lots of it. My fruit/veggie intake is minimal to non-existent. Though my BMI is in the healthy range, I know I can't possibly be healthy with decades of this diet. Where do I even start to relearn how to eat? [more inside]
posted by sixtyten
on Dec 31, 2013 -
33 answers

So I have majorly changed the way I have been eating over the past 6 months, and it seems to be working so far. (Yay!) I will be going on an all-inclusive week long vacation in Mexico with a large group of family at the end of January. They love to party and eat, and so do I, but I know that a combination of drinking a lot, eating too many carbs, and staying up late make me super tired, unhappy, and break out. I'm looking for specific strategies to stay on track while I'm at the resort. I intend to enjoy myself, but still not go overboard with the booze, and mostly try to eat well so I don't feel like crap at the end of the week. This is literally the first time in my life I have made significant progress on changing my diet and lifestyle and I don't want to fall back too much. Last time I was at a resort there was lots of food to pick from but most of it was the "standard american diet" with lots of carbs and way too few fresh veggies. What foods can I bring with me and things should I look for on menus to stay close to my healthy diet without making it too difficult to enjoy my all-inclusive vacation? [more inside]
posted by photoexplorer
on Dec 10, 2013 -
13 answers

I would like to set up weekly meal planning/recipe/shopping list service. I follow a certain dietary plan -(NOT paleo )and think that that there i a gap in the market for a simple menu/shopping list which arrives in your inbox every week.
The problem is that I have no idea how to go about setting it up.I am a very decent cook and have done this for myself for about a year,so I already have a whole set of recipes and tricks that are diet compliant.
I need to know if there are any software options that I should be looking at and I have no problem investing the money for someone else to do it-but I'm not even sure who I should be approaching!I would like to be able to modify it and maybe offer add ons/customizations if it was successful.
So any help and advice would be gratefully received!
Thank you!
posted by hitchcockblonde
on Nov 23, 2013 -
5 answers

I'm an overweight (technically obese) triathlete who was recently put on a calorie-restricted (1200-1400/day), moderately carb-restricted (100-130 g/day) diet by my doctor(s). They also have me front-loading my calories into breakfast and lunch at the expense of dinner. It's been hard on me in various ways, physically and psychologically -- my training is suffering, and I really miss being able to share a normal dinner with my partner. I'm also on seriously non-optional medication that makes it hard for me to lose weight and, relatedly, has probably made me insulin-resistant. Help me cope. (Psychological beanplating as well as gory metabolic details for nutrition nerds within.) [more inside]
posted by dorque
on Oct 30, 2013 -
29 answers

I'm on a diet that many (most) people would consider very restrictive if not downright odd. It's for health reasons, though I don't have any visible health or weight issues. I'm going to be spending several days with my boyfriend visiting his family over the holidays, and I'm dreading trying to navigate the weird food issues that will likely arise. If you are on a specific diet, how do you get around not eating various things that people are expected to eat (especially around the holidays)? [more inside]
posted by whistle pig
on Oct 24, 2013 -
50 answers

I've been having gastro problems on and off for the past few months (more on than off). I finally have an appointment with a specialist, but it's not for another month. In the meantime, I'd like to try to do an elimination diet & see what's what, BUT most of what I'm finding online about elimination diets is very broad and don't explain enough. I'm looking for guidelines of how they are typically done as well as recipes and food ideas for the first stages of said elimination diet. [more inside]
posted by firei
on Oct 17, 2013 -
11 answers

What are your favorite recipes that fulfill the following criteria: low in carbohydrates, lots of good fats, medium to generous on the fiber, and filling/hearty? I'm thinking veggies, soups, and sides, mostly, since that's where my recipe book is weakest. [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith
on Oct 2, 2013 -
29 answers

My fiance hates lunch, and every day it is a "thing" for him to try to decide what to have for lunch. He doesn't want to have to bother with it any more. He said "I wish there was just some magic pill I could take that would keep me full and be healthy and make me not have to deal with lunch any more". So now we're thinking meal replacement bars so that he doesn't have to think about it any more. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by PuppetMcSockerson
on Sep 3, 2013 -
51 answers

These feelings are with food and my mother mainly. My eating disorder started in 2010 when I was living with my alcoholic mum and her abusive boyfriend for a few months to try to get her to leave and start a new life elsewhere. Since then it has gotten out of hand, I lost around 20 pounds and gained almost 40 in a year. [more inside]
posted by lovisa91
on Aug 18, 2013 -
16 answers

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